Chapter 14: The Sister I Never Knew Existed
The photograph slipped from my fingers.
Nobody spoke.
Not Daniel.
Not Claire.
Not even Mark.
The room felt frozen.
“My mother had another child?””
Mark watched my reaction carefully.
That alone told me this was something he wanted.
He wanted me shocked.
Confused.
Weak.
But I wasn’t the woman he married anymore.
“Where did you get this?””
My voice was calm.
Mark looked surprised.
“Does it matter?””
“Yes.””
I stepped closer.
“Because if you’re lying, I’ll know.””
His expression hardened.
“You always did have your mother’s attitude.””
The comment made my stomach twist.
“You knew my mother.””
Mark didn’t answer.
Daniel moved closer.
“Emily, don’t listen to him.””
I looked at my brother.
“Did you know?””
Silence.
That was enough.
My heart cracked.
“Daniel.””
He looked devastated.
“I knew there was something.””
“What does that mean?””
“When I found the documents after our parents died, I discovered references to another child.””
My voice dropped.
“And you never told me?””
“I didn’t know if it was real.””
I stared at him.
“You all keep saying that.””
I held up the photograph.
“But somehow everyone knows something except me.””
Nobody had an answer.
Mark took advantage of the silence.
“Your family spent years hiding the truth.””
He pointed at the picture.
“That child was removed from the inheritance because your parents believed she was in danger.””
“Why?””
“Because someone tried to kill her.””
The words hit me.
“Is she alive?””
Mark’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s what everyone wants to know.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Find her.””
He nodded immediately.
But Mark laughed.
“You don’t understand.””
I turned.
“What?””
“The child isn’t missing.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Then where is she?””
Mark looked directly at Claire.
The room changed.
Everyone turned.
Claire went pale.
“No.””
My heart raced.
“Claire?””
She shook her head.
“I didn’t want you to find out this way.””
I couldn’t move.
“What does he mean?””
Claire closed her eyes.
Then whispered:
“She’s alive.””
I stepped back.
“Who?””
Claire looked at me.
And tears filled her eyes.
“Me.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I stared at her.
“No.””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
My mind couldn’t process it.
The woman who appeared today.
The woman who knew my parents.
The woman who helped uncover Mark’s lies.
My sister.
“I don’t understand.””
Claire wiped her tears.
“Your parents gave me away because they believed it was the only way to protect me.””
“Why?””
“Because I was born with a condition that required constant medical care.””
She looked down.
“And because someone was using me as leverage.””
Daniel looked shocked.
“You knew?””
Claire looked at him.
“You knew pieces.””
Daniel looked away.
I felt betrayed by everyone.
“But why didn’t you tell me?””
Claire’s eyes filled with pain.
“Because your parents made me promise.””
“A promise?””
She nodded.
“They said if I came back too soon, the people who wanted the inheritance would find me.””
I looked at the photograph.
My mother holding another baby.
A baby who was my sister.
All my life, I thought I was alone.
But I had never been alone.
I just didn’t know.
Mark stepped forward.
“Now you understand.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
His expression changed.
“I understand that you used my family’s pain.””
He frowned.
“I understand you knew things about me before we met.””
I stepped closer.
“And I understand you were never trying to save me.””
The confidence returned to his face.
“Emily.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You came for the inheritance.””
I pointed at Claire.
“But you also needed her.””
Mark went silent.
Daniel noticed.
“What did you do?””
Mark didn’t answer.
And that scared me.
Then the building lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
A crash came from somewhere upstairs.
The guards shouted.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“Stay with me.””
Then a voice echoed through the darkness.
A voice I recognized.
Victoria.
My aunt.
“You should have listened to me, Emily.””
The lights flickered back on.
May you like
And Victoria stood near the entrance.
Holding a gun.
